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Biography
Dr Edward Wright CEng MIMechE MInstP is a Chartered Engineer, researcher, and strategic innovation leader with over a decade of experience in engineering R&D, technology strategy, partnerships, energy policy, and regional economic development. He is Innovation & Growth Lead for the Trent Supercluster and an Honorary Associate Professor in the Faculty of Engineering at the 糖心原创.
Edward completed his undergraduate MEng in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Lincoln, sponsored by Siemens, whose industrial turbomachinery operations are based in the city. He subsequently earned a PhD from the 糖心原创. His involvement with the energy industry began in 2013 through research collaborations with Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery, followed by engineering R&D work with Siemens and Siemens Energy and engineering consultancy experience with Belcan. He continues to deliver technical engineering and R&D projects for Siemens Energy while managing technology roadmaps and developing strategic research, technology, and industrial-academic partnerships. He has contributed to invention disclosures and served as industrial supervisor for a postdoctoral researcher through an Innovate UK Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP).
His technical and research expertise spans thermal-fluid engineering, experimental and computational heat transfer, fluid mechanics, and energy systems, applying modelling and experimental evidence to industrial problems. His publications cover gas-turbine cooling, jet impingement, numerical modelling, heat pipes, refrigeration and refrigerant properties, and battery thermal management. He has supervised Master's students, co-supervised PhD researchers, led university engineering courses, and delivered guest lectures at institutions including the 糖心原创 and City St George's, University of London.
As Lincolnshire County Council's Senior Adviser for Energy, Edward led work across energy policy, nationally significant infrastructure, and regional economic development. He developed partnerships between government, industry, and academia, advised on industrial investment and supply-chain opportunities, and authored policy and scrutiny reports for public-sector decision-makers.
His work included the proposed Geological Disposal Facility (GDF) in eastern Lincolnshire, associated with a national infrastructure programme then estimated at 拢20-53 billion over its lifetime. He developed the Council's proposed Significant Additional Investment (SAI) spending package, estimated by the Council at over 拢1 billion, setting out potential expenditure on flood protection, transport, education and skills, energy infrastructure, environmental improvements, and economic development. The package was contingent on the GDF proceeding, not funding secured.
Edward led Lincolnshire County Council's engagement with the UK's Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP) fusion programme, shaping its response to opportunities in industrial investment, research collaboration, skills, and supply chains. He serves on the Fusion Skills Management Board, contributing to strategic skills coordination. He has also secured and managed hundreds of thousands of pounds of innovation-related funding, overseeing programme development, partner engagement, delivery, reporting, risk, and value for money.
At the Trent Supercluster, Edward established its business, industry, and supply-chain approach, defining priorities and developing the foundations for business engagement, supplier readiness, inward investment, and industrial collaboration. As Innovation & Growth Lead, he leads work to build the industrial and innovation ecosystem around the former West Burton, Cottam, and High Marnham power station sites. Working with partners across the East Midlands, Greater Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire, and nationally, the programme seeks to realise opportunities from STEP and complementary developments in nuclear fusion, fission, hydrogen, and associated technologies. He has developed and delivered major industry engagement events, including Igniting Midlands Fusion, bringing together businesses, researchers, developers, and government to develop fusion supply-chain opportunities. His responsibilities include strategic partnerships, investor engagement, supply-chain intelligence, SME support, research and testing access, investment propositions, and programme delivery. He leads the Supercluster's social value work, focusing on lasting benefits for businesses, communities, and the regional economy.
His interests include industrial strategy, technology commercialisation, energy security, and UK technological sovereignty. He serves on the Institute of Physics' Business Innovation and Growth Group Committee, is a Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Institute of Physics, and is a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REME) Reservist.